2018 Infiniti QX80 4WD Review

Intro
If you shopping for a SUV that is capable of hulling 7 comfortably, there are few options. Among those options, even fewer offer comfortable seating, stylish exterior, upscale interior, and power engine. The 2018 Infiniti QX80 is one of them. Thanks to Infiniti Canada, I was given the chance to test drive this three-row luxury SUV. Below is my unbiased review.Exterior
The 2018 QX80 has a noticeably updated exterior that is much more modern and slick compare to the previous generation. The front grille is enlarged, and the new LED headlights and fog lights compliment the aggressive styling of the font fascia perfectly.

From the side, the fender vent and the wheels are redesigned to be more cohesive with the styling of the rest of the car. The rear overhang is increased to give the QX80 a more balanced stance. It makes the car looks much smaller than it actually is. In one of the pictures below you can see how much bigger the QX80 really is compare to the Range Rover Sport parking beside it.

Interior
The interior of the QX80 hasn't changed much from the previous generation. The diamond-shape stitching of the leather padding is the most obvious. However, the design of the center console and the steering wheel are frankly a bit outdated. The basic design hasn't been changed for seven years. They are still very functional, but the layout can be less clustered. The buttons should be softer to touch, and look sharper. The rest of the interior of the QX80 is comfortable, quiet, and padded with premium materials.

The front seats are comfortable, and offer the driver a commanding sitting position. The second row seats are equally comfortable with plenty of legrooms.There is no raised bump in the middle of the floor, which helps to make the second row cabin feels more spacious.

Double folding the middle seats provide a relatively large, and easy access to the third row. The third row seats are large enough to accommodate adults, a standout feature for the QX80. I would prefer more legrooms for the third row cabin at the expensive of a smaller trunk space.

Infotainment
The standard 8.0" touchscreen is responsive and easy to navigate. However, the interface is not as slick and modern as some of its rivals. There are conveniently four standard USB ports and a 12V power socket in the front. A small LCD located in the middle of the instrumental cluster provides additional vehicle information.

The rear seat passengers can enjoy the entertainment systems which includes two 8.0" inches screens fitted to the back of the front seat headrests, two wireless headsets, and a remote control.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The QX80 comes standard with forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking.

With the Technology Package, you also get:

Auto-Leveling headlights

Adaptive Front Lighting System

Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist

Blind-spot monitoring

Rear cross-traffic alert

Backup Collision Intervention

Smart Rearview Mirror

The QX80 earned a four-star crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but has not been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Driving

The 2018 Infiniti QX80 is powered by a 5.6L naturally aspirated V8 engine that produces 400HP of power, and 413 lb. ft of torque. Coupled with the standard 7-speed automatic transmission, it gets from 0-100km/h in about 6.5 seconds. It is fast for such a big car. I thoroughly enjoyed the throttle response and the power delivery of this car, something only a naturally aspirated V8 can deliver. Oh, and that sweet engine sound when you step on the gas.

The QX80 delivers a smooth and comfortable ride around town. The steering is light but still communicative. The self-leveling hydraulic suspension does a decent job of keep the body roll under control. However, you do feel the car to be slightly top heavy when making a sharp turn at higher speed. After all, it is a body-on-frame SUV.

The QX80 can tow 8500 lbs in either the rear wheel drive or the all wheel driver version. It is enough to handle most of your toys. The excellent braking ability of the car also helps in that regard. The high ground clearance and the AWD configuration also means it can handle most of the off road driving conditions (with the proper tires).

All that fun and towing ability comes at the price of fuel economy. The QX80 is rated at 17.4L/100km city and 12.2L/100km highway. During our one week test drive, it returns a fuel economy rating of 15.2L/100km.

Cargo Space & Storage
The 16.6 cu.ft of cargo space behind the third row is average. Folding the third row provides 49.6 cu.ft of combined cargo. The third row seat back can only be folded electrically. Although easy to operate, I find the folding speed to be frustratingly slow. One stand out feature is that the folding can be remotely controlled from the front center console. Folding down the second row provides a whopping 95.1 cu.ft of cargo space that should be enough for almost any situation.
Small item storage is good, with a big center armrest bucket and decently sized door pockets. There are two cup holders and two additional pockets for cellphones and gadgets in the center console.

Verdict
I will be honest. I have mixed feelings about this car. On one hand, the QX80 is a good looking car with plenty of power. It provides ample storage space, and seats 7 people quite comfortably. It is also powerful and fun to drive. On the other hand, it is huge, burns lots of fuel, and part of the interior design is really starting to show its age. And there is the sticker price. With the technology package ($8150) which offers many of the important safety features and the optional pearl paint ($750), the 2018 QX80 can get quite pricey. Even if that is the case, its good look and the premium interior should still persuade a lot of the potential buyers.